QUNO Geneva’s Human Impacts of Climate Change Programme has been attending the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan since the start of the conference on 11 November. Accredited under the Friends World Committee for Consultation, Lindsey Fielder Cook and Johan Cavert are representing QUNO during negotiations.

Each October, shortly after the opening of the year’s General Assembly, the UN observes Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) week. The week includes an open debate in the UN Security Council, which this year was entitled “Women Building Peace in a Changing Environment.” QUNO, in partnership with the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), hosted a side event to extend this conversation beyond the walls of the UN, welcoming panelists from Uganda, Kyrgyzstan, and Palestine to speak to a full house of civil society and representatives of Member States.

On 14 December, QUNO New York Programme Assistants joined faith-based partners in a silent vigil outside the United States Mission to the UN. For over an hour, the group held a quiet presence to bring attention to the ongoing massacres of civilians in Gaza and the escalating violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

Attending COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan from 11-22 November 2024, QUNO’s Human Impacts of Climate Change (HICC) program was busy engaging with proceedings and acting in our capacity as official credentialed observers of the multilateral negotiations:

On 26 January 2025, the community of Cropwell Meeting in Marlton, New Jersey welcomed representatives from QUNO’s New York office to share ongoing efforts to advocate for Quaker concerns and values at the United Nations. QUNO NY Director Sarah Clarke gave a short presentation highlighting how QUNO’s approach to facilitating dialogue helps to strengthen connections between leaders, advocates for peace, and those directly impacted by conflict. 

February 1 marked four years since Myanmar's military overthrew the country’s democratically elected government. As the international community observed the anniversary of the military coup, QUNO NY hosted an informal briefing for diplomats by Charles Petrie, former UN Resident Coordinator to Myanmar. The meeting focused on the emergence of new governance models.  

QUNO NY Representative Kavita Desai joined a panel discussion entitled “Promise of World Peace: A Coherent Approach to Peace and Security” on February 7th. Hosted by the Bahá’í International Community (BiC) and the Permanent Mission of Portugal to the United Nations, the discussion focused on the UN General Assembly Revitalization process that makes recommendations on the functioning of the UN System, such as coordination among UN principal organs, rules of procedure, and accessibility.  

The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO), Geneva, is seeking a well-qualified, highly motivated, part-time Fundraising Officer to join its small staff team. 
This is a new position established to support QUNO Geneva’s financial stability and grow its income, in line with our strategic vision and priorities. Under the supervision of the Interim Director, the Fundraising Officer will take this forward through two workstreams: 
1)    Coordination and support to increase fundraising from grant making bodies  

QUNO Geneva’s Peace and Disarmament programme delivered a statement during the General Debate on Agenda Item 3 at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council to welcome OHCHR’s most recent report on the negative human rights impacts of arms transfers (A/HRC/58/41). The statement was delivered by Yvette Issar, Peace and Disarmament Programme Consultant.